Tong line socket



April 16, 1957 p, o, w'lRKKALA 2,789,003

TONG LINE SOCKET Filed April 24, 1953 United States Patent.

TONG LINE SOCKET Paul O. Wirkkala, Nasellc, Wash.

Application April 24, 1953, Serial No. 350,899

1 Claim. (Cl. 294-74) This invention relates to improvements in articles or devices of those kinds that are known in the logging and related industries as tong line sockets; such a device being a means for the attaching of a pair of tongs to a line, or cable, as used with various types or kinds of hoists for the lifting, loading and other handling of heavy logs.

For a better understanding of the present invention, its objects and its advantages, it will here be explained that in the work of loading heavy logs onto trucks, or cars, for transportation from forests to saw mills, hoists that are equipped with cable winding drums are generally employed. For example, a cable may be extended from the cable winding drum of a hoist, over a sheave wheel at the end of a boom, to depend therefrom, and equipped at its end with a pair of tongs adapted to be applied to a log for its placement, by the hoist, on a truck, car or other transporting vehicle. Various types of hoists, engines or loaders might be employed in substantially the same Way for this particular purpose and it is not the intent that the present invention be limited to use with any particular hoisting mechanism, but only to the special form of tong line socket embodied by the present invention, as used for etfecting a connection between a hoist- 1ng line or cable and a pair of tongs that are to be used interchangeably with or in combination with a sling.

Further, it will be explained that logs as brought from the forest vary considerably in diameter. In the Pacific Northwest, it is the general rule that the large majority of saw mill logs range from 12" to 36 in diameter with occasional big logs of from 36" to 100" in diameter. Obviously, it would be impractical to equip the hoisting cable with a pair of tongs of that size and weight required to handle the occasional logs of unusual diameter. Good practice is to equip the hoisting line with a pair of tongs that will handle logs up to 36" in diameter and to load the larger logs by means of a sling applied thereabout; this being a necessary requirement in the handling of peeler logs to be used for veneer manufacture.

It is present day practice, when a large log is to be loaded, to place a cable sling about the log and then either to apply the end loops of the sling to the hooks of the tong, or to remove the tongs from their attaching clevis and apply the ends of the sling thereto. The first method is impractical and somewhat dangerous because of the possibility and frequent breakage of tongs, and the slipping of the sling therefrom. The other method, requiring the removal and applying of the clevis for each change, is time consuming and expensive.

In view of the foregoing, it has been the principal object of my invention to provide an improved tong line socket that provides for the normal attachment of the loading tongs thereto, and also is designed for ready attachment of the sling thereto, without necessitating the detachment of the tongs. Furthermore, to provide for the use of the sling or the tongs without the interfering therewith of the other. Also, to provide for the simul- 2,789,003 Patented Apr. 16, 1957 ice taneous use of tongs and sling for the holding of a log it such conjoint use should be desired.

Specifically stated, it is the object of the present inven tion to provide a tong line socket for the attachment of a pair of tongs to a hoisting line, and which socket also is equipped with hooks to which the loops at the opposite ends of a sling cable can be easily and readily applied, and to provide means whereby one end of the sling can be automatically released while the other is retained connected, thus to permit the sling cable to be pulled free of the log by the hoisting line and without requiring that a workman first climb up on a load to release it.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in the details of construction of the various parts embodied in the improved tong line socket, that provides for its use in the manner intended.

In accomplishment these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

V Fig. 1 is a side view of a tong line socket embodying the improvements of the present invention, with a part broken away to show the mode of applying and securing it to a cable.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a pair of tongs attached to 'the device, and also showing the manner of attaching a sling thereto for lifting a log.

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the releasing of one end of the sling from the corresponding hook of the device- Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The present device, referred to as a tong line socket is designated in its entirety by numeral 10. It comprises a one piece casting, preferably of high grade tool steel, or other suitable metal, formed at its upper end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with a circular, horizontally disposed base portion 12 from which the body portion 13 of the device depends; this body portion terminating at its lower end in a somewhat flattened extension 14.

Attached to the lower end portion of the device 10 is a clevis 16, the opposite leg portions of which are disposed at opposite sides of the said extension portion and are pivotally attached thereto by a pivot pin 18 that is extended through the parts. Suspended from the clevis is a pair of tongs 20. The tongs are crossed near their upper ends and joined by a pivot pin 21 in the usual way. At their upper ends, they are equipped with clevises 22--22 that are applied to the closed end of the clevis 16.

Extending coaxially into the casting from its upper, or base end, is a hole 25; the lower end portion of which is gradually downwardly flared as seen in Fig. 1, and opens into a hole 28 of substantial diameter that is formed directly through the body portion of the device, perpendicular to the plane of the somewhat flattened lower end portion. The casting 10 is attached to the end of a hoisting cable 30. The cable, as here shown, is what is generally referred to as wire rope and its end portion extends downwardly into the hole 25, and for its securement its strands are there separated in a conical flare as at 35, and embedded in metal thus to insure the connection against release.

Formed integrally with the body of the casting, at diametrically opposite sides thereof, are paired, upwardly directed hook forming bills 40-40 over which the loops or eyes at the ends of a sling may be applied, in the manner that has been illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein 41 designates a sling and 42-42 designates the loops at its opposite ends. The sling would ordinarily be of such length that when applierlabout and \supporting a log therein, it would permit the tongs to depend free and clear of thelog,'however, this is not a necessary requirement.

It is ,shown in Big. ,5 that, the.l1o.o.k .seats 43 for ,the cnd'loops '42-'42 ,Oflhfi Slingare curved substantially tothe curvatureiofrtheieable and to that of theloop end as seated ,thereagainst.

It'is-affeature of 1he,,present.invention.that when a log, supported Ibyfthe .slingas in Fig. .4,is.lowered.onto a support=and thehoistline .3I0 is.;slackened on, one endo'f theJsIingcanLbe automatically released from its hook whilejjthe other willQbe retained in connection with itslhook and..the member 10. -This.is by reason of the fact that .one of the ,passages leading upwardly from the"hook seat"is unobstructed, 'for example, the passage leading to.the' leftihandhodkinIFig. 1, whereas the other passageis obstructedLbyasomewhat overhanging and 'downturned shoulder, as at 50, against which thecorresponding "sling'loop 42,,if"lifted.oif'its'hook seat, will engage .and thus be .-.retained againstautomatic release from the casting .10. By reason of this particular construction,.it is possibletojlower a, log as held in the sling to a place of rest and then, upon ,s'light slacking off the hoisting ,line, to ,cause the loop :at .one end of the sling to" lift out not its ,seat. and .clear of "the ,correspondinglhookwhile.thelloop at the other end'is retained against release. "Then' by'lifting the hoisting line and casting 10, the sling can. be, pulled,free'frorn about the log.

With the tong socket so designed, and tongs 20 so attached thereto, .as shown in Fig. 4, the handling of logs by use of the tongs canbe carried on in the usual way. However, when the sling is necessary, it can be placed about thelog, its looped ends applied to the hooks, as in Fig. 4,,andthe'hoisting cable then drawn in to lift the log.

In some instances-'it'may be' desirableto' use'tongs and sling simultaneously, and although this is not a frequent operation, it may be effected by use of the present device it) and a sling cable of agproper length.

The self releasing feature of the device is of importance as it reduces the danger to workmen.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desireoto secure by Letters Patent, is:

A socket of the characterdescribed for securement to the free end or a'hoistingicable, said'socket comprising an elongated body, a recess formed in the upper end portion of said body coaxiallytheredf'and adapted for the reception and securernent: therein ofthe end portion of a hoisting cable, said body having upwardly and outwardly directed hooks extending from opposite 'sides thereof and intermediate its ends for the reception thereover, respectively, or". the opposite end loops of a lifting sling, said hook portions providing seats at the bases thereof for the sling loops to engagean,openingbetween each hookporticn and the body, theopeningat one side of. the body openingfdirectly upward without. obstructionfor automatic lifting of the loop therefrom when aload is lowered onto asupport anda shoulder projecting outwardly from the body,.above the.lev.el of vthe hookvbill at the'other side offthe body, and overhanging; the passage at that side and providing an abutment whereby unintentional release .of the loop therefrom, incident to lowering aload onto "a support,; is. prevented.

'References'Cite'd in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 382,451 Borden May 8, 1888 1,204,863 Hafner et'al. Nov. 14, 1916 2,050,548 'Uhrenet "al. Aug. 11, 1936 2,505,883 Chevalier May 2, 1950 

